Bearclaw Valley ishkabibble

Tadec was the first to arrive where she stood. He inquired if she was alright and she almost crumbled beneath the kindness of his voice. Instead, she forced herself to become stiffer than she had been; hardening against the ease of her crumble. I'm fine, Tadec.. I'm fine... she reminded herself repeatedly.

It was not until Indra came into view that the girl felt true fear creep up from within her. She saw the look on her aunt's face and felt all of her courage fly out the mouth of the den and into the chilling air. All that she had hoped to say was suddenly lost on her. For a moment, the Redleaf girl stood with her mouth gaping and her eyes trained on the red woman before her. All she could think about was the last time they'd argued.

“I... I'm going to leave. I'm going to look for Lucas, or see if someone else has seen him,” she finally sputtered, finding some semblance of her grounding again.